The Sun. — London, England, 1864-10-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 20, 1864. tanley, M. P., and his Constituents, KING'S LYNN, OCt. 19. After another prolonged silence—at any rate as between himself and his constituents—Lord Stan. ley, M.P., met the electors and non-electors of this borough to-day, in the Townhall, and addressed them at length upon public affairs. The Mayor (Mr. W. Burkitt) presided, and introduced the noble lord to the meeting which was, at first, thinly attended. Lord STANLEY, M.P., who was received with cheers, said—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, I have come here for the purpose of addressing to you a few words on the present state of public affairs, in accordance with a promise made long ago, and at the request of many here present, whom I may reckon among my friends. I say this that I may not seem to occupy your time unneces. sarily, and I suppose I need offer no excuse for not having stood before you in this roam either last autumn or the autumn before. One reason and jus tification of my not doing so is that the last three years, however dreadful in the history of Europe and America, have been years of singular peace and calm as regards the people of these islands. It is not difficult to see to what peace has been owing. Great commercial prosperity, the general absence of distress among the people, with one notable ex. ception, while in that case the distress had been re• lieved and alleviated with a care and success never witnessed before on so large a scale—the well. founded belief that any measure really called for by public opinion will be passed, and that so far our constitution answers the purpose for which it was framed; the removal in the last 30 years of nearly all the grievances which in the days of the old Reform Bill stirred men's minds; stirring events abroad, drawing off attention from home a ffairs, and, perhaps, also a kind of political scep ticism, encouraged, if not created, by a Govern ment which is practically absolute in France, and by the crisis through which the great Western Re public is passing, are the causes of the state of things which exists now, which has greatly per plexed politicians of the old school, and which has disgusted those who confound agitation with pro. gress. Some of these causes no doubt are temporary, and others are permanent in their character. Ido not expect the absolute calm of the last four or five years to continue; neither do I believe we shall re. turn to the somewhat feverish and excited condition of the public mind which prevailed, with few inter missions, from 1830 to the time of the Crimean war. Now, I do not regret this. It is quite right to ascer tain from time to time that your house is in good order, the foundation safe, and the roof watertight ; but a man may do that without passing his life in examin ing every crack in the plaster, or testing the sound. ness of every plank and beam; or, to put it in an other way, those are healthiest men who are always thinking about their health ; and as it is with individuals, so it is with States. Political institutions are a means, not an end ; and if peace is kept, if life and property are protected at home, if the revenue is fairly collected and economically spent, and if individual freedom is left to every man, as far as is consistent with the rights of others, to do the best he cau for himself and his enterprises, I believe the State has discharged the principal functions which it can with advantage undertake. I think in our time it is one of the duties of a man of sense, whether he cal's himself a Liberal or a Conservative, to watch that the State does not, as all Continental Governments, without an exception, do, extend its control far beyond these which are its legitimate and natural occupations. Now, let me say, after this preface, that I do not mean to ask you to follow me in what is called a review of the session. What is done is done, and neither praise nor fault-finding can mend it. We may, then, leave the past alone ; our busi ness is with the present and the future. There is only one past debate to which I shall refer, and I notice it because it seems likely, in a great degree, to influence the present policy of the Government, We had a discussion last July on the conduct of foreign affairs. The ostensible object of that debate was to take the sense of the house as to whether the Danish negeciatiwas had been mismanaged, and the object with which many members—l among the rest—went into it was, to obtain from Parliament a distinct and decided expression of opinion in favour of a policy of non-intervention in Continental dis putes. In that we parfe6tly succeeded, The feeling upon that point came nearer to unanimity than I eve: recollect to have been the case in Parliament upon any occasion equally important. I believe the feeling of the c)untry went the same way, and unless I greatly mistake it, the debate of 1864 will mark the beginning of a new era in the his. tory of British diplomacy. Only do not let us fee' two confident that the victory is gained. Welcome everybody's reason, with very few exceptions, in favour of a policy of peace. But cases are likely to arise which the feelings and political passions of many men will be on the other side, and caution and care will still be necessary lest what has been gained in 1864 should be lost in future years. Now, perhaps I ought to correct myself in speaking of a policy of nou-intervention. Ido not mean that England should not have given advica nor express an opinion upon questions not affic' ing her own in terests, but I say that that should be done without menace, or the semblance of menace; it should be done in such a way as not to hold out hopes or threats that force is intended to be used. (Ceeers,) Inasmuch, too, as advice tendered under such circumstances is unfortunately apt to be received with no great respect, I think it ought only to be given on rare and important occasions, when there is a reasonable hope that the parties concerned will be willing to ac cept it, and when the national conscience. and feeling require protest on the part of our Government. Now, there are at this time four leading questions in fo. reign affairs which are likely to occupy attention for some time to come. First, there is the American war, as to which I think the duty of absolute neutrality is plain, so much so that for my part I do not wish to violate that neutrality even to the extent of ex pressing sympathy with one side or the other. I speak of it simply as an observer, and if I were to venture a prediction, which is always hazardous, I should say that I see no prospect of its early close. When two nations are worked up to a pitch of mutual hatred, in which their own icsses cease to affect them if they only can inflict a greater loss upon the enemy, nothing will separate them except the utter exhaustion of one or the other. The time for that has not yet come. Neither party, as I believe, is half-beaten yet, and considering the determina. tion which the North has shown, I think it likely, as I did three years ago, that with its enormous su periority of force it will occupy and overrun in the end the whole territory of the South. The North may succeed so far as to gratify its feeling of revenge and its desire for supremacy ; but when it havdone that its political difficulties will begin. I cannot realise the manner is which a republican commu- nity of 20,000,000 is to hold, consistently with its own principles of government, or indeed with any principles of government, another community of 6,000,000 or 7,000,000 utterly disaffected to its own rule. (Hear, bear.) That is the real perplexity of the Amerie,iu future, As to the drain of men and money, Ido not attach much weight to that. The overflow of Europe will fill up all gaps in the population, and although I should be myself equally sorry to be a creditor either of the North or of the South, yet a country with the gigantic natural re- sources of America cannot be permanently ruined. All we can do—all we ought to do, is to let them fight it out. W e are no t i n any way responsible for the war ; we did not make it or advise it ; and wa know for certain that any offtr of English mediation would be repelled as an insult, and would probably be ascribed to interested motives, although our couter n in th e quest i on, as the thing has turned i out, s really more one of humanity than self.inte rest. I doubt, if we take into recount the state of the Cotton market s i n 18(10, and set o r n.ainst the cot ten famine the opening, of now markets elsewhere and the gain to India, whether wo have been on the whole serious losers by th e wa r• (Hear.) There is, next, the question of Italy ; and as to that I think we see our Wa y morre cle arly than we di d two or three years since. th e Italian people h ave nude niably shown moderation and good sense und er ecn . s!derable difficulties, and they hav e t h eir reward; for I think it is impossible to c'oubt that R ome, or at least the Roman territory, will pass into other hands at no very distant date. The whole arrange ment with France comes to this—that the Pope may hold his own if he can, his debts being paid for him, and time to ing given him, to organise a n army o f hi s own. Now, even if the Italian Government were inclined to observe that treaty strictly—and probably they will observe it only in the letter—they cannot pre vent a rising in Rome itself, and they cannot pre vent the pouring in over the extended frontier of money, arms, and volunteers; and then the question remains, whether any army which the Pope can maintain on his own account, supported as he may be indirectly by Austria and Spain, but not assisted by any European State, will suffice to put down a rising. I do not think that we in England can easily understand the extrema importance which the Italians attach to the possession of what is an unhealthy and decaying town, possessing no peons liar military and commercial advantages, and with nothing to recommend it except its historical name. But if they think it worth while on that account to quarrel with the bulk of their clergy (who form in Italy a powerful class), and their adherents, and to incur the of the Catholic Po wers,l think the choice will be in their own hands; at all events they will not have to wait a considerably long time. It is impossible that they can long maintain an army upon its present footing ; they are at this moment spending 50 per cent. above their income, and the alternative before them is plain—either to disarm in part, and to adopt permanently a policy of peace, or to involve themselves in a fresh war with Austria, the issue of which would be exceedingly doubtful. For my own part, accepting Italy as a fact, and wishing well to its people and Government, I hope they will adopt the former and not the latter course. Most States desire to extend their frontiers, but it is a bad bargain to do that at the cost of national bankruptcy ; and if to accomplish this object, thpy have to call in foreign aid, they might be expected to pay for it as they did before, and that would, I think, be a transaction not very edifying on the score of political morality, and not very conducive to the maintenance of political tranquillity in Eu rope. (Hear, hear.) There is another part of Europe in which we shall probably see great changes before long—l mean Germany. It is clear that the clumsy scheme of a German confederation has in practice broken down, and it is equally clear that the mutual rivalry of Austria and Prussia, to say nothing of the jealousy of foreign States, will make it impos sible for all Germany to be united for any purpose or in any manner as a single community. The only remaining alternative is that the smaller States should unite among themselves for mutual protec tion, in which case they would be dependent upon France to a great extent ; or that, according to their geographical position and their political ten dencies, they should connect themselves, some with Austria and some with Prussia, so as to be, for diplomatic and military purposes, practically an nexed to those countries. The latter alternative is, in my opinion, the more likely to be the result wit nessed, and in that case I sincerely hope England will not interfere, even by her voice, to prevent it. The existence of these petty German sovereignties is useless ; they multiply, as we have seen, the risks of war; they serve, as far as I can eee, no politi cal purpose, and the sooner they disappear from the map of Europe the better, in my judg ment. (Hear, hear.) The fourth question of which I spoke is that of the East. It does not press at this moment, so I shall only touch it in passing. I believe the breaking up of the Turkish empire to be only a question of time, and probably not a very long time. The Turks have played their part in history; they have had their day, and that day is over; and I confese• I do not understand, except it be from the influence of old diplomatic traditions, the determination of our older statesmen to stand by the Turkish rule, whether right or wrong. I think we are making for ourselves enemies of races which will very soon become in Eastern countries dominant races, and I think we are keeping back countries by whose improvement we, as the great traders of the ,world, shall.be the great gainers, and that we are doing this for no, earthly advantage, either present or prospective. I admit that Enga land has an interest, and a very strong one, in the neutrality of Egypt, and some interest also, although to a less extent, in Constantinople not falling into the hands of a great European Power ; but Ouse two points set aside, I can conceive no injury arising to Great Britain from any transfer of power which might affect the Turkish Empire, and although this is not a practical question at the present moment,l have a very strong idea that, before long, it will become so. Now, in regard to Colonial matters, apart from the question of the African settlement, and that of defence, which I shall deal with as matters of finance, there is only one subject which need interest us greatly at home—l mean the rela tions amongst themselves of the colonies composing the two great groups, Australian and American. In British North America there is a strong movement in progress in favour of federation, or rather of union, in some shape. In Australia I believe the same feeling exists, but not so deeply, and though it has not assumed a practical form, I think that tendency ought to be encouraged in both one and the other case. (Hear, hear.) We know that those countries, must before long be independent States. We have no interest except in their strength and wellabeing, We see in America the peril of a Federal Union hastily and loosely arranged between States, each jealous of its separate and sovereign power. We have settled the relations of the colonies to the mother country, it is now our work to help them to settle their relations with ore another; by so doing we shall strengthen the Bri tish Empire whilst they remain with us, and obtain more willing and more powerful allies when they cease to be in a position of dependence. Now Ido not know if it is worth while to mention that un lucky quarrel which has sprung up between the home and colonial authorities of Australia on the subject of transportation. (Hear, hear.) The case is this, we continue to send a certain number of con victs to Western Australia, as we have an undoubted right to do, and the West Australians themselves do not complain. But when the sentences of the convicts are expired, they migrate to the other colonies, and introduce there a dangerous and de praved_ population. Against this the Australians complain, and say, as fthink with perfect truth, that if you turn these men loose upon any part of the Continent they are sure to find their way to every other. Now there is some irritation, 1 am afraid I must say a great deal of irritation, upon the subject, and I think not unreasonably. I mention it because I think it ida matter in which it is mere folly for England to stand upon her legal rights. We know that before long the - Western Australians themselves will object, as the other colonists have done, to receive our felons, and when that happens we must discontinue to send them. It is only, therefore, a question of sending them for a few years. Under these circumstances I think it would be wise for the English Uovernment to yield at once and declare that transportation to Western Australia shall cease. (Hear.) They will have to make that concession before long, and it is surely wiser and better to do so when they can do it freely and whilst we can de so with a good grace. (Cheers.) And now, gentlemen, coming nearer home, let me say a few words upon matters which touch us more closely. In days of external and internal peace financial questions are naturally those which take the lead. And in respect to finance, our posi tion is so thoroughly sound and satitlictory that our only fear is that it may be too good ,o last. ((Mein.) We have tided over the great cotton famine without lobs or injury, and in It way which no one could have expected. We have a trade increaming more rapidly than that of any European county. We are, as a Government, living within our income, which is more than can be said of any Continental State at the present time. (lIplr.) In fintinCe no!hing succeeds like succeEs— every Eurplu3 that you hive given you is an oppor tunity of creating a surplus for futuro years by the _ ... removal of inconvenient and obnoxious taxes ; and I do not see anything, short of a foreign war or of some great national disaster at home, why the pro. gress which we are now making should not cons tinue. (Hear, hear.) I find no fault with the ge. neral course of our fiscal policy of the last few years. At the sam e ti me th a t i t i s easy to b e lib era l w h en there is plenty t o give away, it is not difficult to reduce burthens when the country is growing in wealth every day. I think also, though this is rather a matter of speculative criticism than of prep sent importance, that in discussing these questions we are very apt to make the mistake of attributing too much to legislation and too little to the natural progress of the country. (Hear.) Thirty millions of the most hardworking people in the world, and in a country where the leading idea of 99 men out of a 100 is to increase their fortune and improve their position, enjoying the advantage of a general peace in Europe, and with vast colonies extending and increasing every year—such a population can hardly help growing richer under any system of finance that is not absolutely bad. What, however, is by the way our business, is to consider, not the past, but our present and future position. First, let us look to the side of expenditure. Have we any prospect of being able to return to the figures of that golden age of economists, the years from 1835 to 1840 ? I fear we must dismiss that as an idle hope. Everything is more costly now than it was then. We see it and we feel it in private life. Europe is more heavily armed ; parts of it are more disposed for war, and however little we may be inclined to meddle, still a certain amount of defensive preparation is a matter not of choice but of necessity. (Hear, hear.) You will never again, I think, see the national accounts showing a figure on either side of less than sixty millions; but there are certain items in which I believe re ductions, and not inconsiderable reductions, can be made. (Applause.) Ido not pretend to minute acquaintance with the working of the dockyards ; but there is an extraordinary concurrence of testi mony on the part of every person to whom I have spoken (and I have discussed the matter with en gineers and sailors, and with others who ought to be acquainted with the subject, again and again)— there say, an almost unanimity of testimony that the work there done, though it is good work when it is done, is costly in a very extraordinary degree—(hear, hear)—and that, I think, is only, what might be expected. In establishments of such vast magnitude you cannot have the master's eye everywhere. You have nobody personally inte rested in forcing a strict and minute economy. Dockyard men h.ve votes—(laughter) —and I em afraid there is a good deal of political jobbery re maining ; and, apart from that, nothing leads to waste, even among perfectly honest men, more than the knowledge that your- employers' purse is one that you cannot exhaust. Now, I fear our enor mous wealth is making us rather too careless in these matters. I think, also, it is a question whether, in the utter uncertainty which at present exists as to the best ship and the best gun, we ought to go on building iron clads at the present rate. On the whole, though 'speak with diffidence, yet I believe in a year or two we ought to be able to knock off from the navy estimates from a million to a million and a half, and that without doing any injury to the service. (Applause.) As to the mili tary services, the case is somewhat different. I believe that, upon the whole, we get money's worth for our money; and I do not grudge any expendi. Lure which may be found necessary in providing improved barracks, or in providing more efficient arms. But there is the question to consider whether we are not making a mistake, in scattering our mill. tart' forces too much over the world,and keeping up garrisons at various points which are at once burden some in peace and too small to be effective in war. (Hear.) I say nothing as to Malta or Gibraltar; those are great Imperial fortresses, and must be held in strength. So, again, such places as Hong Kong, or Bermuda, or Aden, cannot be left without defence I Australia is virtually self-protected ; India pays its own troops ; but Ceylon and Mauritius might be made, I think, to do the same; and at the Cape, vhere till lately we kept up an army rather than a garrison, the settlers are now, or ought to be, strong enough and numerous enough to hold their own against any ordinary native attack. So again in New Zealand—where we must all be glad to see that that most costly and annoying Maori war is over—l think it is time to tell the colonists from , henceforth, "You are now stronger than the native tribes; you are stronger in numbers ; you have the ) advantage of wealth, of discipline, of civilisation they have had a lesson ; if you do not meddle with them they are not likely to disturb you again ; and, therefore, take notice, from this time we shall leave you to fight your own battlee." (Hear, hear.) I think in such a colonial policy as I suggest there is groundwork laid for a saving of expense which would not be inconsiderable. There is another matter which Parliament must shortly deal with— our relations with the African coast. There has been a waste of money in that, the most pestilen tial climate which exists, of which, I believe, few persons are fully aware, and the risk is even greater than the loss. Take the thing called the Cape Coast protectorate. That may at any time involve you in war—it last year actually did involve you in war —with some barbarous chief like the King of Ashantee, in a country where men die like rotten sheep, and never see the face of an enemy. And what is the return for all that ? I suspect uncom monly little. The whole subject of these African settlements and of the African squadron wants in quiry, and I am glad to learn that it is about to be taken up in the course of next session by an inde pendent member. My own idea- is, hold on to Places where you either have, or where you can develops an important traffic, if, by abandoning them you would sacrifice that traffic; but do not go inland, hold nothing except where you can reach by water; keep clear of protectorates and alliances, and recollect that though civilised Africa may be a very noble idea with those who are w illing to undertake it, still England ought to be just before she is generous, and we have plenty of t h n a e t coo w fl work ye at with perplexity, i d t o h renearergard o home. o me. (Appl ause .) Th ere i s o which we arc in a posi tionl mean Canada. In the event of a rupture with the ljuited States—l hope it is most improbable, but in their present temper nothing is impossible—Canada is our vulnerable point. It is the most indefensible country in the world—a long narrow strip, with no depth of coun try that is habitable to fall back upon, and with a sparse population who have had no experience of war. And yet the case is not one in which we can honourably say to the Canadians—" Defend your selves—it is not our affair." If they were to be brought into a war in consequence of a quarrel be tween England and the United States—a war which they had done nothing to bring about, and as to which they had not even a voice—we could not in honour or duty abandon them. All we can do is to call on them, so long as they retain their connection with us, to do more towards their own defence than they have as yet done, and to make our assistance conditional upon their doing that. That we can do, and we can avoid sending troops into the interior, where they are neither numerous enough to be of use, nor in a position where, if attacked, they could retire with honour. Canada I look upon as an ex ceptional case. With regard to the other colonial garrisons, I think they will bear a considerable re- duction, although no doubt that must be gradually and cautiously done. As to the civil expenditure I have nothing to say—or rather, I must frankly tea you, I do not look for ward in regard of that to any saving of importance. The days of sinecures and jobs are very nearly over; there are very few offices which, even by the strictest revision, you could do away with, and there are many heads of expense which we must expect, as populatio❑ grows, to be come heavier rather than lighter. I hold it, there• fore, as certain that any economical reform of im portance must take place io the military and naval depirtments. I think we are as a nation —we have Inca of late—somewhat too apathetic in these mutters ; but some movement has been made in that direction, and, taking into contempla- tion our prospects for the next throe or four years, I see on the whole nothing extravagantly sanguine in looking forward to a reduction of at least two millions, and possibly of more. Now to that we have to add the natural increase of the re. venue to an extent, including recovery from duties reduced, of about a million and a quarter yearly. lam taking a very moderate estimate. It has been more than that—it has been more than a million ----- and a half during the last three Sears; and when one remembers that those years, however prosperous in other respec►s, have been the years of the cotton 'amine, I think it is not unreasonable to suppose that a similar increase will continue. (Hear, hear.) Of course I am arguing on the assumption that our course of prosperity is not interrupted by any great European war in which we should be involved; but that, I think, is the only thing seriously to fear, and, if I am right, we may with reasonable economy look forward to a relief from taxation in the next four years to the extent of six or seven millions. (Applause.) Now that anticipation makes it clear to my mind that, whatever else we may find to fight about in the House of Commons, financial questions will not lead to any very serious Parliamentary struggles. Of course some may think that one tax should have precedence, and some may prefer another; but with reasonable patience, every strong claim may be satisfied. Of course it would bo idle to attempt to frame budgets for future years ; but I may indicate briefly a few of what I consider to be leading principles. The worst tax, beyond exception, that we have, is that on fire insurances- (Applause.) It yields altogether about a million and a half, and I doubt if there is any other part of our taxation of equal amount that is liable to equally grave objections. You, by your Town Council, have petitioned against it ; and I think you have done wisely, It is a discouragement to prudence ; it is an encouragement to gambling speculation—for a man who prefers betting on his luck rather than insuring is in effect a gambler; it cripples a great and profitable business which, if not taxed, would rise to dimensions far exceeding the present ; and if it is—what persons speaking in its defence have called it—a tax upon property, it is a tax imposed upon property in the most capri cious and arbitrary way. It spares the great pro prietor who can afford to be his own insurer; it spares the man who has his property scattered over a great multitude of different investments; it falls heaviest upon those who are not rich enough to meet the loss—who cannot afford to be their own insurers. (Hear, hear.) At the same time, I do not say that it is necessary to sweep away that tax altogether. It is the excessive amount that makes the hardship. A tax of 38. is injurious where a tax of 61 would be harmless. If it were reduced to that amount the exemption accorded long ago to agricultural stock might in that case, I think, fairly be done away with, and that very small charge be imposed upon all alike. At that rate, which would ba only one-sixth of the pre. sent, you would still retain a quarter of a million from the tax ; and, in a few years, from the in crease of the practice of insurance, I believe it would yield three times as much, (Hear, hear.) Now, next in order, I think, is the income tax —(hear, hear)—and with regard to that I think we ought to consider our position carefully. The popular thing, of course, is to say, " Sweep it off altogether." (Laughter.) I should like to think that fairly possible; but I doubt whether it could be done consistently with justice. (Hear, hear.) I think, if you were to do so, the effect would be, unless many other taxes were removed at the same time, to destroy the balance between direct and indirect taxation, and therefore to throw a heavier proportion of the burden upon those classes who do not at present contribute to the income tax. I think that 31, or even 4d. in the pound —that is 11 to nearly 1 per cent—is not a very heavy burden, and that where the total propor tion of the tax to income is so small, those in equalities which, as I believe, are inherent and inevitable in any income tax, will cease to be prac tically felt. I think, also, there is an advantage in having the machinery ready at hand, and not having to create it afresh, in th e event of any national exigency. I think , therefore, if we could get down that tax to half of its present rate, we might fairly be content, and we ought not fo'r the present to attempt to go further. In ens- toms duties the reductions of the last few years have left very little that is urgent to do, Tea, sugar, wine, all have been dealt with. The duty on spirits, I suppose, hi the interest of niorality,no one would be very anxious to reduce, unless it could be shown that it was evaded by smuggling. All the remaining duties are unimportant, except that on tobacco. That is a duty which I think may wait for a while. No doubt it is excessive in amount, and so it en courages fraud. No doubt also it falls in a heavier propor tion on the poorer than on the richer consumer. And it is a duty which, by means of increased consumption, would recover itself very rapidly if reduced. At the same time the article is not one of necessity—it is not one of which it is desirable to stimulate the consumption indefinitely; and I think, on the whole, it need not be considered, at least until the two questions of income tax and insurance are dealt with. (Hear, hear.) As to the duties on corn, on fruit, on timber, and one or two more, yielding altogether something over a million, they are in general too small a percentage upon the cost of the articles to be very injurious to trade, at the same time the amount raised by them is not very large. The policy of late years has been that of simplifying our tariff, and I think at no very distant date you will see those duties disappear. (Applause.) Now allow me to say one word as to a tax which has been very much discussed of late —I mean the excise on malt. I have requests from some of you, though not very many, to support the total abolition of that tax, and throughout the eastern counties there has been, I know, a considerable movement in that direction. I must tell you frankly I think that is a thing which Parlia ment will not do, and which in my judgment it is very doubtful whether it ought to do. (Applause.) Consider how the question stands. You would lose by a total repeal of the malt tax six millions, or nearly so, at . one blow ; and if my estimate of our present and future financial con dition is correct, you would thereby cut yourselves off from the possibility of dealing with any other tax, or of relieving any other interest for several years to come, (Hear, hear.) But there is more than that; the loss does not end with that one tax. You would be obviously dimi, nishing to a great extent the return from spirits, Probably, also, cheap beer would du something to lessen the consump tion of tea. It is a very moderate estimate to allow for a loss in this indirect way of two or three millions more; and I do not see, looking at it from another point of view, how the duty on tea is to be permanently retained if beer is to be wholly exempt. One is as much a poor man's luxury as the other, and certainly tea is, on the whcle, the more harmless of the two. (Laughter and applause.) 1 hold, therefore, that the country gentlemen will act with less than their usual prudence and good sense if they commit themselves to a movement for a total repeal. Reduction is another matter, and I dare say we may sea in the course of time £1,000,000 or £2,000,000 taken off that duty ; but in that case, as in that of the tobacco duties, I do not think the claim for remission is very urgent, and certainly I do not think it ought to cone before the income tax and the fire insurance duty. On these questions of finance the general principle which we have to follow I think is clear. i I think we ought to divide such surpluses as we may have as fairly as may be between remissions of direct and indi rect taxation. If we hold to that rule Id 3 not apprehend any very serious differences of opinion. There is, I know, a school of financiers who desire to sweep away all indirect taxation whatever, making up the deficiency by direct taxes on property. Now, my objection to that doctrine is, that in the first place it is utterly impracticable—the public will not have it ; and in the next place, it is utterly unjust. You would be exempting in practice three-fourths of the nation from all taxes, and throwing the whole of the burden upon the remaining fourth. If these ideas should make any progress in the public wind, I might have a great deal more to say about them, but at present they are in th e _ _ will hardly nature of sp ecu l a ti on on l y , an d I think they will l ong remain so. (H ear, h ear. ) N ow th e re is one que s ti on o f great itnt.ortan ce a t a ll ti m es, but on which y ou expect me to enter into details to-day-1 mean that w hi c h re l a t es t o the extension of th e franchise. It is useless to discuss that matter until we know whether anything is likely to be done or attempted in that direction by the present Cabinet. How that may be I do not know, and possibly they themselves do not. But I do know this, that while a small measure would not satisfy that party from whom the demand for action proceeds, a large measure cannJt be carried out except with a state of popular feeling very different from that which exists at present. It is quite idle to think that whero the whole question in dia- pute is the transfer of power from one class to anothei, you can settle the matter, after a little friendly discussion, in a way which will satisfy everybody. Any man who expects that will be disappointed. There are many persons here wh') remember 1832. At that time the whole middle and lower classes, with the exception of a small minority, were on ono side, and on the other there were only a few hundred per dons interested in the maintenance of the rotten boroughs, Yet you all remember that the bill of 1533 was not carried without a struggle which agitated the country from one end to the other. It is not now the upper, it is the middle class —the owners of the gr ater part of the property of the coun try, and by far the most powerful class in it, which exercises political supremacy at the present day, They are not likely to part with it of heir own free will, at least, if they do, it will be a new fact in the history of the country, and I see no such movement on the part cf the working classes which would be likely to overbear the resistance which might he expected. I do not think the Conservative party have any thing to reproach themselves with on that subject. They were expected by Parliament and the public to make, in 1858-9, some proposal which should be in the nature of a • _ - _ compromise. Th ey made it, _failed, and withdrew from power. Their successors made a similar attempt—they failed also, and they have stayed where they were. (Cheers and laughter.) Now my opinions on this question aro those which I held in 1859, but if it is to be dealt with at all, it cannot be settled without a dissolution of Parliament ; and therefore any persone who wish to have from me a detailed explanation of what I should or what I should not support will bs perfectly sure to have his opportunity. (Hear, hear.) But it does not follow, even if the whole question be left un touched, that Parliament need be idle. We have a vast mass of miscellaneous work on hand, quite sufficient to oc cupy our attention for many years to come. Our law—after modern reforms perhaps the most cumbrous and complicated in Europe—requires to be consolidated and simplified. That is a process involving, no doubt, labour at the hands of per sons to whom Parliament may entrust it ; but otherwise the task is not especially difficult. We have that extra ordinary system of purchased commissions in the army which I firmly expect to see done away with, at least so far as regards the higher grades. (Hear, hear.) We have the question of parish or union rating for poor law purposes, and connected with it is that intricate problem, the law of settlement. We know that the administration of our public charities is faulty, and I cannot conceive a better investment of time and labour than would be a Parliamentary inquiry into at least the chief of them, with a view to utilise the vast funds at their disposal. (Hear, hear.) We have a licensing system which satisfies nobody, and the reform of which was: recommended by a committee of the House of Commons ten years since. In Ireland and Scotland the laws which regulate marriage are in a state only fit for a barbarous country. (Hear, hear.) It cannot be said that what is called the private legislation of Parliament is in a condition altogether satisfactory, although, as I frankly ad mit, it is easier to say that then suggest a remedy. (Hear.) Then, our patent laws want amending, if the privilege of granting patents is to be retained—and that itself is a ques tion for very serious discussion. A commission has been issued—upon which I have the honour to sit—to inquire into the laws relating to capital punishment; and, whatever opinions may exist as to the limits within which such pun ishment shall be inflicted, I think almost every one agrees as to the inconvenience of having cases tried over again in pri vate at the Home-office after they have been publicly tried by a judge and jury. (Hear.) Well, I might go on almost indefinitely with a list of questions which require to be dealt with or discussed ; bat those I have mentioned are enough as a sample. You see there is plenty of work which you may put upon us, and I only wish that you (the constituen cies) would look a little more sharply after us, and make sure that we do it s (Laughter and cheers.) Idleness is not Conservatism. (Hear, hear.) Economy and administrative improvement are quite as much the interests of those classes whose principles and associations make them conservative as of any other; and if, as I believe, the country does not desire organic change, it little wishes for a state of utter lethargy and stagnation. Regulated activity disarms agi tation; apathy and neglect create it, (Cheers.) Now, gen tlemen, you will be glad to hear that I am drawing to a close of what has necessarily been a very long survey. (Cheers.) I am not fond of long speeches; my only excuse must be that the ground to be gone over is extensive, and that in view of an election, and probably of a contest, I did not wish any voter in this town to say that he had been deluded or left in the dark as to the opinions of his representative. (Cheers.) There are two classes of subjects which I have left untouche : those relating to India, which I fear I could hardly make interesting, and perhaps not intelligible to gentlemen who only hear of them for the first time; and questions of an ecclesiastical character, with regard to which, although there may be a good deal of talk, it does not seem to me that Parliament is disposed to take any ac tive step, But ore these, as, indeed, any other matter within my power, I shall be glad to answer any questions that may be put to me. ( dear, hear.) Party politics, as you know, I do not deal in upon these occasions. (Cheers.) In the House of Commons, if a man wishes to do anything, it is almost inevitable that he must act with a political party, but there has never been a time in my memory when party spirit had so little life in it. The reason I believe is, that between moderate Conservatives and moderate Liberals the differences are slight, and those who represent extreme opinions on either side were never fewer, and never exercised less in fluence than at present. (Hear.) There way be an extreme Tory party, though I never saw one, nor do I know what its views are. There is, no doubt, a democratic party, but it numbers but a small minority of the House of Commons. All between represent shades of opinion which impercepti bly merge into one another, the most reasonable one in my opinion being generally found near the middle. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) That is a state of things which is em barassing to many people ; but as far as I can see, it is not injurious to the country. It may be that those who are now in what is called Opposition may be called upon to take their turn of power. If they are, I hope and believe that they will use it wisely. But one advantage I am afraid they will not have. I greatly doubt whether they will be treated with as much patience and as much forbearance as during the last five years has been exhibited by them to their rivals. (Cheers.) But whoever may administer affairs, it is opinion which governs. Opinion is the stream, and politi cians, with all respect to them, are the straws which float upon it. It is opinion which governs, and I believe that opinion in England was never more moderate than now in regard to home affairs, and never more resolute as to the maintenance of peace abroad, never more willing to deal with practical and proved abuses, but never less inclined to undervalue the merits of the system under which we live. (Cheers.) And now once more let me apologise for this lone address—let me thank you for the kindness of your recep tion, and let me express a hope that the political tie which now connects us may long remain unbroken. (Cheers.) Broken by my fault I hope it may not be—broken by my choice I assure you it never shall be. (Loud cheers.) Thanks to the Mayor, and three cheers for the noble lord closed the meeting. Naval and Military Intelligence. Field Marshal the Duke of Cambridge, having concluded his annual visit of inspection of the garrison and defences of Portsmouth for the present year, embarked on board her Majesty's steamer Sprightly, Commander G. Allen, at the Sallyport stairs of the garrison yesterday morning, under a Royal salute from the guns on the Ring's Bastion of the town fortifications, the Royal standard being at the same time lowered from the garrison flagstaff, and hois'ed at the maintopmast head of the Sprightly. Major-Gen. Lord W. Paulec, C. 8., commanding Portsmouth and the South- West Military District—Lieut.-Gen. Sir Richard Airey, Quartermaster-Gen.—Col. Clifton, Aide-de•Camp to the Duke—Col. Gambier, ILA., Deputy-Adjt.-Gen. of Artil lery—Col. Gordon, R,E., commanding Royal Engineers in the South-West District—and Capt. St. John M.Paulet, Aide-de-Camp to MajornGen. Lord W. Paulet, accom panied his Royal Highness on board the Sprightly, which immediately afterwards left for Hyde, Isle of Wight, and Southampton Water, it being the duke's intention on leav ing Portsmouth to land in the first instance at Feyde and tali(' carriage across the island to Sandown and inspect the several forts which have been recently erected there along the shores of the bay. On returning from Sandown his Royal Highness and the officers with him re-embarked on board the Sprightly, which proceeded to Southampton Water, where they disembarked at the landing place of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley, and proceeded to inspect that establishment, From Netley his Royal Highness returned via Southampton to London. In the course of the inspection at Portsmouth on Tuesday after noon,the Duke of Cambridge lunched with Col. Benn and the officers of the Royal Artillery at Fort Brockhurst,which, with Forts Eisen, Rowner, Grange, Gomer, Brown-down Monckton, and Blockhouse, form the eight detached forts in front of the Gosport lines, awl are the most im portant works of the kind yet completed in the kingdom. From Fort Brockhurst, the Duke proceeded with Colonel Mackirdy, the senior officer of the Gosport District, to the new barracks, occupied by the 69th Regiment, which was drawn up in line, and inspected by the Field-Marshal, who was highly pleased with the regiment. He afterwards visited the recreation rooms now building for the troops, and the canteen, which has lately been opened under the new regu lations, and is found to answer well. On the same evening his Royal Highness was entertained at dinner by the Lieut. Governor of Portsmouth, Major-General Lord William Paulet, C. 8., at Government-house, to which the following gentlemen were invited :—The Mayor of Portsmouth ; Lieut.-Gen. Sir Richard Airey, K.C.8., Quartermaster- Gen. ; Rear-Admiral George Elliot ; Col. Mackirdy, com manding 69th Regiment; Col. Gordon, C. 8., commanding ; Col. Gambier, C,8., D.A.G., R.A. ; Col. Stuart, C. 8., commanding 21st Fusiliers ; Col. Elliot, commanding R.A,; Col, Benn, R.A.; Col. Murray, commanding 87th Fusiliers; Col. Ayles, Commandant R.M.L.I. ; Cal. Tato Commandant R.M.A. ; Col. Clifton, A.D.C.; Lieut..• Col, Carey, commanding 26th Cameronians ; Lieut. Col, Shute, commanding 64th Regiment; Capt. Scott. R.N., Victory. The Imperial Russian screw corvette Rynda, 11 guns, Capt. Basargine, anchored at the Motherbank, off Ryde, Isle of Wight, yesterday morning from Pernambuco, bound for the Baltic. Yesterday morning her Majesty's steamship Achilles left Sheerness harbour for Portsmouth. While the vessel was preparing for sea, a hawser broke and struck a man named John Dorgin on the head, and seriously wounded James Barling, leading man of riggers in Sheerness dockyard ; and John Callan), also a rigger. The men were taken to the surgery in the dockyard, where Dorgin expired almost im mediately. The other two men had their wounds dressed by Assist.-Surg. Skene, and afterwards were well enough to walk to their own homes. The unfortunate man Dorgin has left a wife and six children, one child now lying deed. Vice - Admiral Henry Francis Greville, U. 8., died on Tuesday last, after a long illness, at his country seat in Berkshire, aged 70. He was the eecond son of Lieut. Col, Henry F. Greville. He entered the navy in 1806 on board the Renown, Capt. Durham, and next joined the Arethusa. In this ship, as midshipman, ho took part in the active ope rations on the north coast of Spain, where in a boat affair 1 - = was shot through the leg. He afterwards joined the Volage, C❑pt. P. Hornby, and he subsequently saw service on the Boulogne and North American stations. In 1817 ho held the office of private secretary to Lord Combermero. After holding various employments and comm Ands he was in 1851 appointed to the command of the Trafalgar, 120, on the M , diterranean station, in which ship he served during the war with Russia, For his gallant services during the war in the East he was made a Companion of the Bath, and an officer of the Legion of Honour by Napoleon III.; he was also decorated by the Sultan with the Medjidie of the 3d class, The deceased officer's commissions bore date as follows :—Lieut., Jan. 4, 1811—commander, July 19, 1822 —capt., Aug. 27, 1832—rear-admiral, May 19, 1856-- vice admiral, April 1, 1863, Lieut, D. M‘Mahon, Ist battalion Military Train, has in- vented and brought into complete working order a most useful species of packsaddle, adapted to the capacity of horses and mules of various sizes and burdens. By a simple con trivance of turning an inverted screw in the upper part of the framework, the saddle is brought to fit the back of any ordinary horse or mule, and is enlarged or rendered suitable to smaller animals as required. The invention was yesterday exhibited at Woolwich, and was fully tested in presence of a number of officers appointed to investigate its capabilities preparatory to its being despatched to Aldershot.by order of the Field-Marshal Commanding in Chief of the Forces, who has directed the Lieut. Gen. commanding the division on that station to afford the invention a proper trial, and to report the result. Lieut. M'Mahon states that, from his experience during the Crimean and Chinese campaigns, he is aware that many hundreds of animals were lost to the service from the pack-saddles torturing the animals' backs, and that ill-fitting saddles rendered the transport of stores on a campaign in an enemy's country most difficult and un safe. He also states that, from the many specimens he has seen of packsaddles used by foreign Governments, there is nothing in use so serviceable as that now invented. It can be unscrewed and packed in less than half the space re quired for transporting the one now in use, and can be ex panded or contracted at will. The following appointments have been made at the Ad miralty :—Lieut. Herbert F. Crohan to the Excellent ; R. Mungle, surgeon, additional to the Duncan; Nicholas L. Gedge, clerk to the Excellent, for the Royal Sovereign; Archibald G. Douglas, master's assistant, to the Dasher ; and Alfred B. Scott, master's assistant, to the Victory. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. COCKERMOUTH AND WORKINGTON. It appears that recent negotiations between the directors of this company and the directors of the Whitehaven Junction Railway Company have re sulted in a provisional agreement to lease the Cockermouth line to the Whitehaven Junction Com. pany in perpetuity, on terms equivalent to a dividend of 10 per cent. per annum on the ordinary capital of the Cockermouth Company. COPENHAGEN. Yesterday a special general meeting of this com pany was held at the offices, Angel-court, Throg. morton-street, Mr P. P. Gordon in the chair, to con sider the present condition of the company. The chairman said the receipts on the section of the line opened to Fredericksborg fully justified the expec tations that had been formed of it, and the section to Klampenberg would be completed by the begin ning of the year. The present meeting had been called to consider the question of raising further funds, it having been found necessary to lay down a double line in certain localities, in consequence of which the cost of the line would exceed the original estimate. Under these circumstances the contractor had agreed to complete the line, to comply with the requirements of the municipal authorities, and to receive part payment in debentures bearing interest at 7 per cent. This would render it necessary to call up more than £7 per share and to issue debentures bearing interest at 7 per cent., redeemable in five years to the extent of the paichrip capital of the company (X 27,000). By this means ample funds would be provided for the completion of the line, rolling stock, and stations. A long discussion en sued on the present position of the company's affairs, and upon the impracticability, in the present state of the money market, of issuing debentures as proposed. Ultimately a committee of three share holders, to act with the directors, was appointed to inquire into the company's affairs and ascertain what was best to be done, and the meeting separated. GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA. The traffic receipts on this company's lines, ink eluding those of the Montreal and Champlain and Buffalo and Lake Huron Railways, amounted for the week ending the let inst., on 1,335 miles, to £24,644; and for the corresponding week of last year, on the same mileage, to £23,352, showing an increase of £1,192, GREAT WESTERN OF CANADA. The traffic receipts on this company's line for the week ending the 6th inst. amounted, on 345 miles, to £12,970, against £12,934 on the same mileage for the corresponding week last year, showing an increase of £36. The receipts on the Detroit and Milwaukie line amounted, on 189 miles, for the week ending as above, t0.£6,713, against £5,221 on the same mileage for the corresponding week of 1863, showing an increase of £1,492, PERNAMBJJCO. The report of the directors states that they had fully expected to have been enabled to announce the final settle ment of the long-pending question of the extension of the company's guarantee. Capt. de Medeiros, the Government consulting engineer, after careful investigation and personal examination of the works, made his report to the Imperial Government recommending the extension of the guaranteed capital by the sum of £485,648. This recommendation, having been adopted successively by the three Ministers who succeeded Senor Sinimbu (since 1861), and finally sanctioned by the Finance Committee of the Council of State, was, early in the month of May last, brought before the Chamber of Deputies, and read a first time as part of the Ministerial estimates, The Imperial Government, between whom and the company the most friendly relations existed, thus pledged itself to an augmentation of the company's . _ guaranteed capital to at least the amount so recommended by Capt. de Medeiros, an instance of good faith on the part of the Government which the directors felt assured would be appreciated and acknowledged by the shareholders, and which could not fail to enhance in public estimation the honour and character of Brazil. On the second reading, which took place on Juno 1, it was, after debate, carried by a majority of 57 to 28. On July 7 following it passed the third reading by a majority almost as great ; in which state it went up in due course to the Senate, where, according to the manager's last despatch to the directors, it was still waiting to come on as part of the estimates, with every pro spect of being carried before the close of the session ; which was then expected to terminate as usual on the 2d of September. But an unexpected dissolution of the Ministry, on grounds wholly unconnected with this measure, having taken place at the latter end of August, a suspension of business unavoidably occurred. The session, however, having been subsequently extended to the 12th of Septem ber; with the view of enabling the new Government to get through with the estimates of their predecessors, which they had taken up, it was possible that the French mail, which would be due before the meeting, might bring intele ligence of the measure having passed; otherwise the manager feared it would have to stand over, if not to an adjourned session, until next regular session, which would be in April. The directors deeply regretted the continuance of this long protracted state of suspense ; but having full reliance not less on the honour of Brazil than on the justice of the company's case, they all felt assured that it was sim ply a question of time. As regarded capital, the account of which was virtually closed, the Board were of opinion that it would be for the advantage of the shareholders that the shares of the company, which were now paid in full, should be converted into stock. The traffic receipt for the six months ending June 30, 1864, amounted to £26,197, against £24,759 for the corresponding period of 1863, and £17,959 in 1862, and notwithstanding the great reductions in the tariff which had been experimentally in operation since Dec. 1 in last year, the six months ending June 30 last had yielded a net surplus beyond all working expenses, actual and contingent, in England and Brazil of £3,327, of which the Imperial Go vernment had had the benefit in account, and one-half of which had by arrangement with them been allowed to be retained by the company towards recouping the cost of the recent supply of the three additional locomotives mentioned in the last report. The result therefore was that the half year's guaranteed interest received from the Government on the existing capital, after payment of the interest on the Government loan and on the existing debentures, had yielded a surplus of £19,696 applicable to interim dividend, at the rate of something more than 3 per cent. per annum on the present share capital, or 1 per cent. for the half-year. The line and works, which have recently been officially exa mined by the Engineer Fiscal, and the whole of the rolling stock were reported to the directors to be in good working condition. The insufficiency of the rolling stock still con tinued to be seriously felt, and had been pressed upon the Imperial Government, who were perfectly aware of, the ne cessity for an increased supply ; but thi s , w ith th e extension _ _ _ • into Recife and other minor questions, stood over, at their instance, until after the additional guarantee had been finally disposed of, Tho directors had no doubt of its being dealt with at an early period, as the Imperial Government were not only fully aware that the traffic was on the increase, but were themselves contemplating its further development by a road to bo opened from Victoria to Frexeiras, which, if car ried out, would materially augment the company's receipts. The lawsuit with the late contractor yet remained undecided. The company had secured the services of Mr Bovill in the place of the late Mr Welaby, and the directors were advised that the decision of the Court might be expected in Hilary Perm next. The directors had much pleasure in stating that the health of the entire staff, with some trifling excep tions, continued good, no cases of fever of any importance having occurred since the directors' last report. Tho re venue account for the six months ending the 30th of June last showed that £26,197 had been received on account of traffic, and £24,973 on account of the Government gua rantee, making together £51,170. From this was d e d ucted 20,942 for wor ki ng ex p e nses, £8,184 int eres t on floating debt and debentures, and £2,347 legal expenses inEngland, leaving a balance of £19,697. Tho expenditure on capital account amounted to £1,822,158, leaving a balance of £26,425 in favour of the company, -- The Daring Burglary at a City Fa` xnbrokel Yesterday a reward of £lOO was offered fc a. the captur the burglars who broke into the permises o f Mr Mull pawnbroker, at the corner of John-street , Minories, carried off about £5OO in money. The circa amstances el that both the burglary and robbery of the cash were dently well planned, and carried out with cc ,nsiderabled beration. On Sunday morning, about 7 ,'clock, the seri girl was coming downstairs to attend her ordinary dome duties as usual, when on reaching the last landi:ag she alarmed at seeing a man near the side street door, about to go out. She immediately returned upsta.irs in or to arouse her master and the other inmatc ts, and as she going up she heard the door shut, as if t man had The girl, accompanied by her mistress an ,c 1 others sleep in the house, then proceeded downstairs, a nd. a brief eV° nation showed that the money safe in tb.e counting 11°1 had been opened by the keys, and about £5OO in gol d silver had been abstrated. Information of the c a vent was forwarded to the Dell bouring police station in Seething-lame, and Mr InsPe. r Scott and Sergeant Goodeaves, of the City force, rePau to the house and instituted an inquiry apParer in t o the ' ll l of the facts. It was discovered that the w bu r g' had effected an entrance through a skylight of a ellfe on the upper part of the premises, one of the pan ee ° glass having been removed in order tc, open a kind of ty dow-flap, The officers went on to tb .e roofs of Mr Ann i house and those adjoining, and footmt Irks were clearlY tre ell able. The thieves having succeed e d in getting in to the b and being provided with a d ar k l an tern, which was fetli s! in the place, th e y p rocee d e d downstairs towards t h e log part of the premises, wh ere a s to c k o f watches, gold ohell and other property, of th e va l ue o f Isom a thousa nd:of Pe ll ! was stored. On the second landin there was a with an alarm bell, which would imgmediataly h a ve sou and aroused the inmates had the door been o pened. I.° i sl t c this difficulty the burglars climbed oven . the high 19811s ht of a kind of well-staircase and so reecho(' the lower 11,5-b stairs. To obtain possession of the keys it would see ra L 's bedromn, w"` they had the audacity to enter Mr Annis rise he was asleep, and take a buuch of keys out of ni o lro pocket. Ono of these keys opened a drawer in the countiti house which contained the keys of the safe, e nd befo thieves had easy access to the cash, amounting, e e stated, to about £5OO. Of the stock of jewellery in tile ;b lB e ' nothing was missing, and it is conjectured. that the ro f door fitt were disturbed before they could possess themsel ves 1 0 , Had the servant girl had the presence of w ind to f ti waited a moment or so until the man her]. gone out , door and then given an alarm in the street, instJad of rd ning back upstairs to her master, the fellow migh t P °s4s sx have been caught, as there is a cabstand close Sidi amid the stillness that prevailed at that time on a d morning her cries would have been soon heard. I lls ' 1 :1 however, has given such a deEcription of the von to t 1 police, as may, with other circumstances and ",.. e ft : 'll of the hat on the roof, lead to the detection of the parties. It is supposed that the thieves — f or 1 , ;bee clear that there was only one—contrived to so re ' - pa ov selves in an uninhabited house now under repair e °1338 tl 1! from that of Mr Annie, and at mid n i g ht clambered eri roofs of the intervening houses, and so reached t he ekl' through which they effected an entry. There were fll e sons sleeping in the house of Mr Annie. The princiPale aft, tired to rest at half-past twelve on Sunday ta ge making up the accounts and the cash which had b een during the day. COUNTRY MARKETS. HULL—TUESDAY. s b ee Since our last a moderate amount o f business 1 1v Del done in the corn trade. English wheats are getter tu a l oi( for advancing prices, which buyers decline paYiug' u ll 0 11 foreign qualities in request at full rates ; interior At our market to-day there was a moderate OPP ouots ~ti° English wheat, which me t a s t ea dy sa l e at the . of last week. Foreign wheat was in retail requeot, the jot change in price. Grinding b ar l e y a ready B old r a vious week's advance. Beans, oats, and peas rately, at about former rate s . sale at al od, LYNN—T UESDAY. the Will * 1 ' The weather continues dry, with a change 1 , 11 f wheil to the south-west. At to .d a y's m arket the suppiqoeuP was moderate, late prices being fully supported. an old of barley was plentiful, at late rat e s. For bean s ' trade was very firm. f 37 368 - 0 qi White wheat 43s to 45s 1 Barley ...... ... • • 290 to o v o Red .. .. 37s to 38s I Grinding ...... • ' 2 2 s to * Beans .4os to 42s I Oats ..... ' to s Old ... 36s to 37s I Peas ............ ea vi. Averages --Wheats, 37s id—barley, 29s 1 061--w 39s Od. —TUESDAY. The local markets MONMOUTH have been fairly attended by a t o buyers and sellers during the last six or seve n ' r iceo with a considefable business doing, at about former P The average quotations are as I,llows to3e I°' Wheat, white 5s 3d to 5s 9d I L'arley...... 3 s 4d 3s pc Ditto red..... Os Od to Os Od Oats ....... 2s 4d td MARKET HARBOROUGH—ruEsDAI r • k ith A moderate quantity of wheat to-day, which Wet B a rt el " - fair inquiry at prices much the same as last week. e eY. and oats came freely to hand, but crices as last ore —White wheat, 41s to 45s ; red, 38s to 43 s per 3u ~`",- , 3(P Malting barley at 31s to 34s per q r . ; gr i n ding, 2 68 — r 3C per 30 st. Oats, old, 25s to 275; new, 20s to 2 6 $ P" at. ; beans, 36s to 42s per qr. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE—TrEsDAY. t Was At our corn market to-day the supply of he a t s log moderate, which sold at bar e ly tormer rates, wituitojeY, business—new white, 39s to 49s ; red, 37s to 4 0 s. a le 0 both malting and.grinding, was an exceedingly sl ow 0 wig scarcely BO touch money. Oats declined 6d per clr.. v j o ut large arrivals. Beans and peas rather rather lover. not much sought atter. COAL M . !noes of Coal per Ton al e. d. Byass's Bebside West .I.ltK ET. . d g the close of thseßrar 0 e e t * Wall .2 1 0 ffetton. ............ . .0 6 Tunstall .......... • . 6 lieugh Hall .......... 20 South Kelloe... ..... _ • Hartley ..19 6 Baddle'sWest Hartley 19 6 Hastings Hartley ....19 6 Holywell 19 0 Eden Main 20 3 Ships at market t, 26 ; sold, 24, Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUB. Oct . . 1 9 ; Australis and Mauritius, via Southampton ..... ' 'Nov. 1: via Marseilles ......... Noy. ' 9 ' brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. ....... t . 2• Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.' 0.1 0 . ; China, Penang, and Singapo re , v i a S ou thampton•X, c . 21' via Marseilles ..vv Falkland Islands *** oot. 19 ' Gibraltar, via Southampton t 19 ' India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton , O ft: l• via M ar seillea...•n . ..--• India (Bombay), via Southampton ..... *Ou . ,ot. 1, --- via Marseilles ............... .Y,-„, i . 4. Portuga 1.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via S ou th am pton ...... Oct. 2-' via Marseilles ....... Oct . 0 , Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo .. . .................. v, U. S. and British N. A mer i ca , b y B r it . pac ket.. •• ' by U.S. packet.. • • oc t. 2 1 ' by Canadian packet. ,v. All parts of West Indi es , i nc l u di ng Chili, Peru, j Got. California. and Briti s h Columbia. ANOTHER SUSPECTED INCENDIARY F 111 %;11 . YORKSHIRE.—Another stockya r d confi a g ril. 00 broke out at Norton, near Melton, in the East Ridi tt g' t o Sunday afternoon. On this occasion Mr Harrison / /5° , 0 0, sufferer, a number of stack s , f arm -b u ildi ngs , iniPl elll- 5.110 &c., being destroyed or greatly injured by the flame s ' fire had it all its own w a y, as no water as to be f°/I)3 A ci w cleo the neighbourhood for the supply of the engines. 8 , 11 ;a0 change in the wind saved an important range of btli w r" O f the destruction of which would have great'ncrease"! total loss. The hind's wife had been confin y ed i onV til f e t ;g r e: vious day, and had to be carried to an adjoining and some horses, beasts, and pigs i n th e adjoining w u ,;1 3 0 ings had a narrow escape from being roasted al ive '. tell cause of the fire is a mystery, but it i s p o p u larly attrib tl tr o with but too much reason, to the i nce ndiaries Wil °ll ,r ti o been so busy of late in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire' e e- tO nl full value of destroyed stack s , b u ildi ngs , a nd ivaP le— the is net now ascertainable ; but it i s sta t e d that oviing, v t° lklrs alarm caused by the incendiary fires in the eool3obirs Harrison insured his st ac k s i n th e L ee d s a nd YorP of office only ten d a y s ago . Th e prem i ses are the prope r t" Mr. Robert Bower, of Births. , ° ASSER,—On the 17th i ns t., a t H erne Lodge, r°resv the wife of Robert Asser, of a son. B u ci rr e s o E r g N t . 3 o O n n ß the s l e B n t , h o i f n a s t 8 . , n a t . The G r ove, CrOraer, BUCKLE,— v On the 17th inst , o at York, the wife ° E I°4ll. Buckle, Esq., of a son. AclVe TRISTRAM.—On the 19th inst., 'at 4, The College ° ' f t cates, Doctors'-commons, the wife of T. K. Tree . Esq., D,C.L., of a son. Marriages. Ma Ar CROSS -SAUNDERS.—On the 18th inst,, at St. ,---, j 3 eV; bott's, h. ensington, Charles James Cross, Esq. , ° ;;.:tt r °- ford, to Eliza, daughter of the late J. Saunders, ,--- -.' Kensington. , I „,rvel' Y OT Brighton, PFeE Y t . -0--GI Emily, th thirdl9th inst. h W te i r ll v ia i md r 7o/ 0 Peachey, late of Pulborough. HA E R sci V . E , • Deaths. Acli GREVILLE.—On the 18th • 11 • 11 Vi ce. Inst., at Canon 1 , miral Henry Francis Greville, C.B , aged 70. ij oi JULLION —On the 16th inst. at at Bell Vur. flougeo 4 84 Fell, Gateshead, Jch Louis. ' rii I ) " - u Jallion, E,,q., ' 37. 1ift ,%t NICIIOLSON.—n -n the 17th inst., at S Itoyd l l ' Stoney , 05. h Yorks ire, Mr. Francis Housley Nicholson. at ,..ed to SUTTON. -On the 17th inst. , at Taunton, Mr, IV. SLI bookseller, aged 50. 0 Ilig V Tilts. -On the 17th inst., Thomas Tims, Esq . ' f mat gate-rise, and 51, Upper Charlotte-street, Fitzroy agedog 54. 1 4 ° ' TANSWELL.—On the 18th inst., at Temple Ifouse, „,18, head, Surrey, John TanswelEsq , of the Inner Tenii' agell 64. -...•••-ei London : Prin:cd and Pi.bitslied b SVILLIA 11 IAND1-, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at IIE SUN ()Moe ny of Strand, in the Precinct of ' the Sivoy, n the 4'oo iiiidt l looex.—Thursilay, October 20, 1804.